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The Australian government this morning said it would decide "within weeks" whether to proceed with the A$23bn (â¬13.8bn) sale of a stake in Telstra amid questions over the amount of money being paid for advice on the deal.

Nick Minchin, the country's finance minister, said that a windown of opportunity to launch a retail offer for its remaining 51.8% stake in the telecom company would come between now and December, and he would decide whether to proceed soon.

The deal, on which a decision had been expected in March, would be the world's largest secondary offering by value.

Minchin's reiteration that the offer was high on the agenda came as Australian Labor Senator Ruth Webber asked the government to reveal how much it was paying advisers and consultants for the deal, which has been dogged by delays and uncertainty.

She said: "At least 10 companies have been hired by the government for advice and it is not paying off," according to ABC News Online, part of the Australian broadcaster.

Minchin said: "Of course we paid these advisers just like the Labor Party paid advisers on the sale of the Commonwealth Bank and Qantas. All those figures will be revealed in due course and appropriately once we've completed the process," ABC reports.

Additionally, in January the government amassed panel of banks to pitch for a sales role on the deal. The banks will not be paid a fee until they win a role.

Last month Babcock & Brown, an Australian private equity firm that bought Irish telecoms operator Eircom, was reported to be considering a strategic investment in Telstra. Macquarie, the Australian investment group, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts were also reported to be interested in buying a stake, although a stake would be limited by regulations to 5%.